FBI Director James Comey held a “pen and pad” briefing with reporters on Wednesday where he provided some new insights about the Bureau’s investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private e-mail server.
Director Comey was asked during the briefing about Clinton’s continued characterization of the investigation as a “security inquiry,” according to Fox News.
“[I am] not familiar with the term ‘security inquiry,’” Comey replied. “We’re conducting an investigation. … That’s what we do.”
Clinton and her campaign have described the investigation as a “security inquiry” for months in what some see as an effort to downplay the seriousness of the matter. Clinton herself over the weekend in an interview on CBS News described the matter as a “security inquiry.” Furthermore, just this morning Clinton confidant Sidney Blumenthal appeared on CNN and described the matter as a “security inquiry” as he fumbled his way through a question about the e-mail issue from host Alisyn Camerota.
Director Comey was reportedly also asked to address the concerns of government employees with security clearances who believe that Clinton may receive special treatment during the investigation. Many current government employees with security clearances have argued that had they done even a fraction of what Clinton did they would already be in jail.
In response, Comey sought to alleviate some of those concerns by saying “there are no special set of rules for anybody that the FBI investigates.”
Amid several reports that the investigation is entering its final stages, Comey said he is not “tether[ed] to any external deadline.” Comey added that the electoral calendar, including the upcoming presidential election, is not something he is taking into account.
Although, Politico reports Comey said he does feel some pressure to complete the investigation, as he does in any high-profile case.
“We want to do it well and we want to do it promptly. I feel pressure to do both of those things,” Comey reportedly said. “As between the two things, we will always choose ‘well.'”
[image FBI Director Comey via screengrab]
